Bulldozer blade mounting

ABSTRACT

A bulldozer blade mounting for slidably supporting the ram assemblies for the bulldozer blade while shielding the hydraulic actuator as the actuator extends and retracts.

United States Patent Berg [451 July 4, 1972 1541 BULLDOZER BLADE MOUNTING [72] Inventor: David A. Berg, Milwaukee, Wis.

[73] Assignee: Allis-Chalmers Manuhcturing Company,

Milwaukee. Wis.

{22] Filed: June 8,1970 [21} AppLNo; 44,099

52 use ..172/sos,31/s0 151 1 lnt.C1. ..E02f3l76 [58] FleldoiSearch ..l72/805,804,80l-803,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Long ..172/so4 2,681,518 6/1954 Troop ....l72/804 3,059,356 l0/l962 Lorang ....l72/804 2,766,536 10/1956 Perkins.. 1 72/805 2,274,183 2/1942 Austin ..l72/804 Primary ExaminerRobert E. Pulfrey Assistant Examiner-Stephen C. Pellegrino AttorneyArthur L. Nelson, Robert B. Benson and Kenneth C. McKivett [57] ABSTRACT A bulldozer blade mounting for slidably supporting the ram assemblies for the bulldozer blade while shielding the hydraulic actuator as the actuator extends and retracts.

10 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures BULLDOZER BLADE MOUNTING This invention relates to a bulldozer blade on a tractor and more particularly to a means slidably supporting and aligning the ram assemblies to form a telescoping shield arrangement while the blade is angled.

The conventional bulldozer blade carried on the front end of the tractor is generally used for excavating and leveling operations. For most versatile use of the blade it is necessary to have a means of maneuvering the blade into various positions to accomplish the work required. Accordingly, a hydraulie system is employed including a plurality of hydraulic actuators positioned to manipulate the blade as desired.

The conventional blade includes a pair of hydraulic cylinders which are connected to the C-frame and the chassis of the tractor which when actuated will lift the C-frame and the blade. Hydraulic means are also used to pivot the blade about a transverse axis forwardly and downwardly more commonly known as pitching. A further movement knownas tilting of the blade can also be accomplished by hydraulic actuators connected to the blade which lower or raise either side of the blade to create a pivoting of the blade around a longitudinal axis and in a vertical plane transverse to the tractor. Another motion generally required is the angling of the blade which is more commonly known as pivoting the blade about a vertical axis in a horizontal plane. Some bulldozer blades are angled manually and have a mechanical means which will retain the angled position of the blade. These types of mechanisms usually require that the vehicle be stopped and the attachment of the blade to the vehicle be adjusted to create an angle of the blade relative to the vehicle and when the blade is positioned the work is continued with the blade in an angled position.

A more sophisticated arrangement of angling the blade can be accomplished by using a hydraulic actuator pivotally supported on the side arms of the C-frame. The forward ends of the hydraulic actuator are suitably connected to the bulldozer blade in the manner whereby either side of the blade can be moved forwardly or rearwardly relative to the opposite side. This pivotal motion is about the pivotal connection on the center point of the C-frame and the center of the bulldozer blade.

Accordingly, this invention provides ram assemblies for movement of the bulldozer blade in angling operation. The C- frame defines two side beams which extend rearwardly along the side of the vehicle and are pivotally connected to the chassis. Positioned on the C-frame are a pair of guides which define the motion of a pair of runners carried on a portion of the hydraulic actuator. The hydraulic actuator is also pivotally connected to the rear end of the side beam of the C-frame. The forward end of the hydraulic actuator on the front end of the ram assembly is confined to a movement parallel to the side beams of the C-frame.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a mechanical support for a bulldozer blade.

It is another object of this invention to provide a slidable ram assembly slidably mounted on the side beams of the C- frame to accommodate angling of the bulldozer blade about the center pivotal connection to the C-frame.

It is a further object of this invention to provide runners on the side beams of the C-frame which are received within guides connected to the hydraulic actuator which in turn is pivotally connected between the rear portion of the side beam and the bulldozer blade.

It is a further object of this invention to provide hydraulic ram assemblies confined to parallel movement parallel with the side beams of the C-frame wherein the ram assembly includes shielded hydraulic actuators for angling the bulldozer blade about a central pivot point on the forward end of the C- frame.

The objects of this invention are accomplished by providing a C-frame pivotally connected to the side of the chassis of the vehicle and extending forwardly to a central point upon which the bulldozer blade is pivotally connected. A slidable ram assembly is slidably mounted on each of the side beams of the C- frame and extend forwardly to connect on each side of the bulldozer blade through divergent struts. The ram assembly includes a hydraulic actuator which is extended or contracted to produce an angling or the bulldozer blade around the center pivot point of the C-frame. The ram assembly includes telescoping shield and cover assemblies to exclude dirt, and foreign material from the ram assemblies during operation.

FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of the bulldozer blade mounted on a vehicle.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the bulldozer blade mounted on a vehicle.

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross section view taken along line III- III of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross section view taken on line lV-IV of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a cross section view taken on line V--V of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view of the lower strut blade connection.

Referring to the drawings, a bulldozer blade 1 comprises a moldboard 2 reinforced by a box section 3. The bulldozer blade 1 is connected to the C-frame by the pivot assembly 5. The C-frame 4 is pivotally mounted on the brackets 6 and 106 on the chassis 7 of the vehicle 8. The pivot assembly 5 includes a pivot pin 9 defining the horizontal axis and a pivot pin 10 defining a vertical pivot axis. These pivot pins 9 and 10 provide a universal pivoting arrangement whereby the bulldozer blade can pivot through the vertical axis for angling and the horizontal axis for pitching of blade.

The side beams 11 and 12 of the C-frame 4 carry a bracket 13 and I13 respectively on the rear end of the side beams. Bracket 13 and pin 14 provide a pivotal connection between side beam and the hydraulic actuator 16. The hydraulic actuator 16 comprises a cylinder I7 having a rod I8 extending forwardly from the cylinder. The rod 18 is pivotally connected to a clevis 19 which in turn is fastened to a push arm which forms a shield 20. The shield 20 extends rearwardly where it is fastened to a trunnion support 21 defining a pin 22 connected to a socket 23. The strut 24 is connected to the lower portion of one end of the blade I by the pivoting assembly 125. The pivoting assembly 125 is a universal pivoting arrangement which permits the bulldozer blade to pivot on two axes relative to the strut 24.

The socket 23 is also pivotally connected to an arm 124 including a pitch and tilt hydraulic actuator 25. The hydraulic actuator 25 includes a rod 26 extending forwardly to the pin 27 and the ball and socket 28 to permit relative movement of the bulldozer blade when the blade is pitched or tilted.

The bracket 13 mounted on the side beam 11 is mounted under a cover 30 which is shown in FIGS. I and 2 as well as FIGS. 3 and 4. The cover 30 is fastened to side beam II by a plurality of bolts 31. The cover encloses the actuator 16 and extends forwardly where it is fabricated with an end plate 32 to partially close the forward end of the cover 30. The brace 15 supports the cover 30. Braces I5 and also engage wear plates 126 and 127 to counteract side thrust of the C-frame.

The rod 18 of the actuator 16 is connected to the push arm 20 which defines a shield telescoping in and out of the cover 30 as the actuator is retracted or extended. The trunnion 21 and trunnion pin 22 extend from the shield 20 for connection to the strut 23. The trunnion 21 is fastened to the guide bracket 35 which carries the guide assemblies 36 and 37 receiving the runners 38 and 39 respectively. The bracket 35 is fastened to shield 20 as shown by a welding in FIG. 4. Accordingly, as the rod 18 extends, the guide bracket 35 carried on the shield 20 slides along the side beam II to maintain a path parallel to the side beam 11.

A vehicle pitch and tilt actuator 41 is also pivotally connected to the bulldozer blade 1 through the pivotal assembly 42 and pivotally connected on trunnion connection 43 of the strut 44. Strut 44 extends to the lower portion of the bulldozer blade 1. The hydraulic actuator 45 is also pivotally connected by the connection 46 on bracket 113 to pivotally support the ram assembly.

The operation of this device will be described in the following paragraphs.

The vehicle 8 includes a chassis 7 which pivotally supports C-frarne 4 having the side beams 11 and 12 extending rearwardly for pivotal support on the brackets 6 and 106. The brackets 6 and 106 permit a pivotal movement of the Cfrarne which in turn will lift and lower the bulldozer blade 1 in response to operation of hydraulic actuators 130 and 131 connected between the C-frame 4 and the vehicle body 8.

The bulldozer blade is supported on an arm and strut on each side of the blade and is pivotally connected by the pivot assembly on a central forward portion of the C-frame 4. The hydraulic actuators and 41 provide a means to pitch the blade forward or rearwardly in response to simultaneous extension of the hydraulic actuators 25 and 41. The struts 23 and 44 are trunnion mounted on the side of the C-frame forwardly of the mounting of the C-frame on the chassis 7v The trunnion mounting of the struts 23 and 44 permit a pivotal movement of the struts which in turn carry the push arms 124 and 147. The push arms 124 and 147 are pivotally connected by the ball and socket connection 28 to the blade. This in turn permits the universal movement of the bulldozer blade 1 relative to the struts and push arms.

A simultaneous retraction or extension of both the actuators 2S and 41 of the push arms relative to both the lower struts creates a pitching action of the blade 1 when pressurized hydraulic fluid is supplied to the actuators 25 and 41. A differential extention and contraction of the actuators 25 and 41 of push arms 124 and 147 causes the one end of the blade to elevate relative to the other end to produce the tilting action.

The angling of the blade is accomplished by the ram assemblies which are supported on side beams. The side beams carry the ram assemblies and are pivoted on brackets 6 connected to the chassis 7. The ram assemblies are in turn pivotally connected to the side beams on the base of the actuators and are also connected to shields 20 on their forward ends. The shields on the forward end of each of the ram assemblies is trunnion connected to a mating strut and arm connected to the bulldozer blade. As the actuator on one side of the chassis is extended the hydraulic actuator on the opposite side is contracted which in turn produces an angling on the bulldozer blade as shown in FIG. 1. The degree of angling is in response to the volume of pressurized fluid that is supplied to each of the hydraulic actuators carried on the side beam. The hydraulic actuators are differentially extended and contracted to produce this angling of the bulldozer blade. A simultaneous pitching, tilting and angling may be accomplished through a suitable hydraulic system not shown.

Each side of the ram assembly comprises a guide bracket 35, carrying guide assemblies 36 and 37 which receive the runners 38 and 39 respectively fastened to the side beams. Each guide bracket 35 is also fastened to a trunnion 2t and a shield 20. The shield 20 excludes foreign material from the assemblies of the hydraulic actuators l6 and 45. The shield 20 telescopes in and out of the cover as the hydraulic actuator is extended or contracted. Accordingly, the hydraulic actuator per se is not required to maintain alignment of the bulldozer blade 1 because the guide bracket performs this function. The shield 20 transmits a force from the hydraulic actuator to the trunnion 21 which in turn supports the strut and push arm connected to the bulldozer blade. The extension of the hydraulic actuator provides for angling of the bulldozer blade and the guide and the cover prevents foreign material from interferring with the operation of the extension and contraction of each of the ram assemblies.

Accordingly, it can be seen that the bulldozer blade 1 is provided with a plurality of motions which include lifting, angling, pitching, and tilting in response to operation of the hydraulic system. The rigidity of the blade, the guiding of the ram assembliss, and the shielding of the assembly assure continued positive operation of the ram assembly when the bulldozer blade is angled.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive propert or rivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

I. A ull ozer b ade mounting on a tractor comprising, a C- frame pivotally supported on the chassis of the tractor and extending forwardly of said tractor, a bulldozer blade pivotally supported on the forward end of said C-frame, a ram assembly on each side of said tractor including a hydraulic actuator having a base end and a rod end, means pivotally connecting the base end of said hydraulic actuator to said C-frame, a cover connected to said C-frame and extending for substantially the length of said hydraulic actuator for covering said actuator, an arm defining a shield pivotally connected to the forward end of the rod end of said actuator and extending for substantially the length of the rod of said hydraulic actuator slidably movable within said cover, strut means and a push arm means each pivotally connected to the rearward portion of said arm and pivotally connected to said bulldozer blade, guide means mounted on said frame, mating guide means connected to said arm defining a slidable movement of said arm relative to said frame and supporting the rearward portion of said arm, said ram assembly thereby providing a hydraulic actuator shielded from foreign material and extending and retracting said ram assembly and maintaining a predetermined aligned movement of said ram assembly during angling of said blade.

2. A bulldozer blade mounting on a tractor as set forth in claim I wherein said C-frame includes side beams pivotally supporting said bulldozer blade, said guide means on said C- frame defining runners connected to and extending longitudinally on two opposing sides of said side beams, said mating guide means on said arms defining brackets receiving said runners to control the movement of said rarn assemblies when said blade is angled.

3. A bulldozer blade mounting on a tractor as set forth in claim I wherein said tractor includes a trunnion mounting means pi votally supporting said C-frame.

4. A bulldozer blade mounting on a tractor as set forth in claim 1 wherein said hydraulic actuator in said ram assembly includes a hydraulic cylinder having a base end connected to said C-frame and a rod end connected to the forward end of said arm.

5. A bulldozer blade mounting on a tractor as set forth in claim 4 wherein said arm defines a shield of greater length than said rod end of said hydraulic actuator, said cover mounted on said C-frame covering said hydraulic actuator extends for a greater length than the base end of said hydraulic cylinder.

6. A bulldozer blade mounting on a tractor as set forth in claim 1 wherein each ram assembly includes an extendable strut means and a fixed length push arm means pivotally connected between one end of said bulldozer blade and said arm.

7. A bulldozer blade mounting on a tractor as set forth in claim 6 including a hydraulic actuator in each of said upper strut members adapted for providing extension of said strut actuators for changing the pitch of said bulldozer blade.

8. A bulldozer blade mounting on a tractor as set forth in claim 6 wherein each of said upper strut members includes a hydraulic actuator adapted for differential extension and contraction of said actuators to control the tilt of said bulldozer blade.

9. A bulldozer blade mounting on a tractor as set forth in claim 1 wherein said arm includes a trunnion mounting pivotally supporting said strut means pivotally connected to said bulldozer blade.

10. A bulldozer blade mounting on a tractor as set forth in claim 1 wherein said arm includes a trunnion mount pivotally supporting said strut means, a guide bracket connected to each of said arms, at least one runner on opposite sides of said C-frame received in said guide bracket to confine the movement of said ram assembly to a movement parallel to each side of said C-frame for angling of said bulldozer blade.

8 i t i 8 

1. A bulldozer blade mounting on a tractor comprising, a C-frame pivotally supported on the chassis of the tractor and extending forwardly of said tractor, a bulldozer blade pivotally supported on the forward end of said C-frame, a ram assembly on each side of said tractor including a hydraulic actuator having a base end and a rod end, means pivotally connecting the base end of said hydraulic actuator to said C-frame, a cover connected to said Cframe and extending for substantially the length of said hydraulic actuator for covering said actuator, an arm defining a shield pivotally connected to the forward end of the rod end of said actuator and extending for substantially the length of the rod of said hydraulic actuator slidably movable within said cover, strut means and a push arm means each pivotally connected to the rearward portion of said arm and pivotally connected to said bulldozer blade, guide means mounted on said frame, mating guide means connected to said arm defining a slidable movement of said arm relative to said frame and supporting the rearward portion of said arm, said ram assembly thereby providing a hydraulic actuator shielded from foreign material and extending and retracting said ram assembly and maintaining a predetermined aligned movement of said ram assembly during angling of said blade.
 2. A bulldozer blade mounting on a tractor as set forth in claim 1 wherein said C-frame includes side beams pivotally supporting said bulldozer blade, said guide means on said C-frame defining runners connected to and extending longitudinally on two opposing sides of said side beams, said mating guide means on said arms defining brackets receiving said runners to control the movement of said ram assemblies when said blade is angled.
 3. A bulldozer blade mounting on a tractor as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tractor includes a trunnion mounting means pivotally supporting said C-frame.
 4. A bulldozer blade mounting on a tractor as set forth in claim 1 wherein said hydraulic actuator in said ram assembly includes a hydraulic cylinder having a base end connected to said C-frame and a rod end connected to the forward end of said arm.
 5. A bulldozer blade mounting on a tractor as set forth in claim 4 wherein said arm defines a shield of greater length than said rod end of said hydraulic actuator, said cover mounted on said C-frame covering said hydraulic actuator extends for a greater length than the base end of said hydraulic cylinder.
 6. A bulldozer blade mounting on a tractor as set forth in claim 1 wherein each ram assembly includes aN extendable strut means and a fixed length push arm means pivotally connected between one end of said bulldozer blade and said arm.
 7. A bulldozer blade mounting on a tractor as set forth in claim 6 including a hydraulic actuator in each of said upper strut members adapted for providing extension of said strut actuators for changing the pitch of said bulldozer blade.
 8. A bulldozer blade mounting on a tractor as set forth in claim 6 wherein each of said upper strut members includes a hydraulic actuator adapted for differential extension and contraction of said actuators to control the tilt of said bulldozer blade.
 9. A bulldozer blade mounting on a tractor as set forth in claim 1 wherein said arm includes a trunnion mounting pivotally supporting said strut means pivotally connected to said bulldozer blade.
 10. A bulldozer blade mounting on a tractor as set forth in claim 1 wherein said arm includes a trunnion mount pivotally supporting said strut means, a guide bracket connected to each of said arms, at least one runner on opposite sides of said C-frame received in said guide bracket to confine the movement of said ram assembly to a movement parallel to each side of said C-frame for angling of said bulldozer blade. 